Rep. Chaffetz says he hasn't 'ruled out the possibility of leaving early'

by Sara Weber, KUTV

In this Oct. 9, 2015 file photo, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Chaffetz has moved to impeach John Koskinen, the head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), saying he has violated the public trust and obstructed congressional investigations into the treatment of conservative groups. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

My future plans are not yet finalized, but I haven’t ruled out the possibility of leaving early. In the meantime, I still have a job to do, and I have no plans to take my foot off the gas.

The representative of Utah's 3rd congressional district and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform announced April 19 he would not seek re-election in 2018.

Chaffetz, 50, said after "long consultation with my family and prayerful consideration," he will "return to the private sector." He said the decision had nothing to do with his health or fear of losing re-election.

"After more than 1,500 nights away from my home, it is time," Chaffetz wrote in the post. "I may run again for public office, but not in 2018."

Since the announcement, multiple politicians around the state have said, or at least hinted, that they would run to take his historically red seat.